The 27-year-old midfielder signed for Dagenham & Redbridge, runners-up on goal difference in the Nationwide Conference, ending almost four years at Kingfield which began in late 1998 when Brian McDermott signed him from Stevenage Borough for £10,000.

Perkins, player-of-the-year in 2000-01 said: “I’ve nothing whatsoever against the management or fans, who have been great. It’s just that we seem to have been struggling against relegation all the time and at this stage in my career I want to start winning things.

“It might be that I’m one of the players to blame for that situation but I think it’s the right time for a change.”

Gravesend were also known to be interested in Perkins, who has much flair yet lacks consistency, but in the end he chose to link up again with former Cards colleague Steve Perkins and Mark Smith, a team-mate at Boro.

He will continue to teach at a school in west London for the time being.

Woking boss Geoff Chapple said there were no hard feelings: “I wish Steve all the best. I spoke to his agent several times but we couldn’t compete with what Dagenham are offering him.

“As with Roscoe D’Sane, Steve was in my plans but has got a better deal elsewhere.

“I think we’ve got a sensible budget rather than a silly one, so it’s a case of trying to get the best value for it.”

Chapple hopes to bring in at least one new player in the next few days.

n Woking have appointed Brian Blower as their new managing director. The 59-year-old was introduced to shareholders at the club’s annual meeting on Thursday night.

He has previously worked at West Ham, Leyton Orient, Watford and Cardiff City and will be responsible for the Cards’ administrative and commercial departments, the latter having varied between unproductive and non-existent in recent years.